Advances in drug delivery systems based on liposome-composite hydrogel microspheres.

Research on liposome-composite hydrogel microspheres (LHMs) drug delivery systems, primarily composed of drugs, liposomes, and hydrogels, has garnered growing scientific interest. LHMs exhibit biosafety, modifiability, a wide range of loaded drug categories (water-soluble or fat-soluble), controlled and sustainable drug release capability, and specific cell-targeted performance, which compensate for the shortcomings of conventional drug delivery methods due to the complementary advantages of liposome and hydrogel microspheres. In this review, we systematically analyze the existing literature on LHMs and provide a comprehensive overview of their preparation methods.

Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis reveals the mechanism for unique dynamic change in the flower color of Lycoris albiflora.

Anthocyanins are pigments that confer color in plants. Although extensive research has been conducted on anthocyanin biosynthesis, the molecularly modulated mechanisms responsible for flower gradient coloration remain largely unknown. Lycoris albiflora 'Astro Girl' flowers gradually turn from white to pink after flowering, making them suitable for studying the regulatory mechanisms of anthocyanin accumulation.

Perioperative Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Reduces Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Inflammation in Elderly Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a major complication in elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA), often linked to neuroinflammation. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown potential in modulating neural activity and reducing inflammation, but its perioperative efficacy in preventing POCD remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of perioperative rTMS in reducing POCD and inflammation in elderly patients undergoing TKA.

Mechanically Active Hydrogel for Healing Intestinal Fistulas through the YAP-Mediated Mechanosensitization of Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

Intestinal fistula is a serious condition characterized by abnormal connections between the intestine and surrounding tissues. Despite advances in comprehensive management of intestinal fistulas, patients often need to undergo definitive surgery and face life-threatening complications due to ineffective closure measures. Herein, a mechanically active hydrogel (GNGP) that actively constricts intestinal fistulas in response to body temperature is presented.

Mechanism of Astragaloside-Brucea javanica oil nanoemulsion against oral squamous cell carcinoma through CDK1/MTFR2: Network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and experimental studies.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the core target of Astragaloside-Brucea javanica oil nanoemulsion (AS/BJO-NEs) against oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) through network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and in vivo/in vitro experiments, elucidating its effects on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mediated via MTFR2 and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods: By integrating network pharmacology and weighted gene co-expression network analysis, critical gene modules linked to tumor phenotypes, EMT-related adverse prognosis, and elevated MTFR2 expression were identified, pinpointing the core target gene. Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were utilized for analysis and verification.

The Gln-rich protein twip1 promotes high-density {110} twins formation in the shell of the limpet .

Aragonite, a polymorph of calcium carbonate (CaCO), exhibits enhanced mechanical properties due to crystal defects such as twins, which are particularly prevalent in biogenic aragonite and can inhibit crack propagation. Despite the importance, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the formation of aragonite {110} twins in marine organisms have remained poorly understood. Identifying a key inducer for {110} twins could help us understand how crystal defects are controlled in biomineralization.

Interpretable machine learning for depression recognition with spatiotemporal gait features among older adults: a cross-sectional study in Xiamen, China.

Objective: Depression in older adults is a growing public health concern, yet there is still a lack of convenient and real-time methods for depressive symptoms identification. This study aims to develop a gait-based depression recognition method for Chinese community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: Ninety-two participants aged over 60 from Xiamen, China, were recruited for a three-week cross-sectional study.

The Cortical Spatial Responses and Decoding of Emotion Imagery Toward a Novel fNIRS-Based Affective BCI.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), with its non-invasive and high spatial resolution, holds promise in developing novel affective brain-computer interface (BCI). Similar to motor imagery BCI, emotion imagery BCI could recognize internal emotions and convey them to the external world. This holds clinical value for expressing emotions in patients with neurological impairments and serves as a proactive emotion regulation method.

Rhaponticin inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells through modulation of the IL6/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Background: Rhaponticin, a bioactive compound derived from rhubarb, has been demonstrated anti-tumor effects in various types of cancer. However, its impact on HNSCC remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate the specific molecular mechanisms by which Rhaponticin inhibits the invasion and metastasis of HNSCC cells.

Robust, High-Temperature-Resistant Aramid Nanofiber Separator with Hierarchical Structure for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) face significant safety challenges due to the inherent limitations of conventional polyolefin separators, such as poor mechanical strength and inadequate thermal stability, which heighten the risk of thermal runaway episodes. This study presents a robust, high-temperature-resistant aramid nanofiber (ANF) separator with a hierarchical lamellar interconnected network structure, synthesized via a bottom-up low-temperature polycondensation strategy. The resulting ANF separator exhibits exceptional mechanical strength (192 MPa), outstanding thermal stability (initial degradation temperature of ≈510 °C), and negligible thermal shrinkage even at 300 °C.

Oleic acid inhibits the proliferation, invasion, and migration of tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells under high glucose conditions through S100A9-HK2/PKM2-SOD2 signaling pathway.

The incidence of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) has been increasing annually. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the risk factors for TSCC, with hyperglycemia being a hallmark of T2DM that promotes the development of oral cancer and results in poorer prognoses for TSCC patients who also have T2DM. Oleic acid (OA), a component of Brucea javanica oil emulsion, exhibits both anti-cancer and anti-diabetic properties.

Advances in hydrogels for capturing and neutralizing inflammatory cytokines.

Inflammatory cytokines play a crucial role in the inflammatory response, and their aberrant expression and overproduction are closely associated with the development of many diseases. However, traditional inflammation treatment strategies are often accompanied by serious side effects, limiting their widespread use. In recent years, hydrogel, as a material with a three-dimensional network structure, good biocompatibility and modulability, has great potential for trapping and neutralizing inflammatory factors.

NIR-responsive tissue-adaptive hydrogel for accelerating healing of seawater-immersed wounds.

Seawater-immersed wounds pose a significant health risk owing to the high-salt and hypertonic environment of seawater, and the presence of various bacterial species, notably . Although a number of dynamically adhesive hydrogels have developed recently, these gels are often composed of dynamic networks, which lead to insufficient mechanical strength and short-term protection for wound surfaces. In this study, a GPS hydrogel with a covalent network based on gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) (SBMA) has been developed.

Associations of physical frailty and polygenic score with incident heart failure in cardiovascular patients: unraveling the mediating role of inflammation.

Older adults with established cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are at elevated risk of heart failure (HF). Frailty, a hallmark of multi-system aging, may contribute to HF development through inflammation. However, population-based evidence remains scarce.

Brain-targeted mild hypothermia ameliorates ischemic brain injury and promotes stroke recovery in aged mice.

Therapeutic hypothermia represents a highly promising approach for alleviating ischemic brain injury. However, the majority of preclinical studies predominantly rely on reperfusion-based models using young animals, which poorly reflect the clinical situation of elderly stroke patients with limited recanalization. This study sought to bridge these gaps and accelerate the clinical translation of therapeutic hypothermia while elucidating its neuroprotective mechanisms.

Management of Platinum Electronic States through Metal Host-Guest Interactions for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction.

Controlling the electronic states of Pt-based catalysts holds great promise for enhancing the intrinsic activity of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, inspired by first-principles simulations, we propose a strategy using metal host-guest interactions to tune Pt 5d electronic characteristics to optimize the adsorption strength of the key *OH intermediate. The hybrid electrocatalyst of Pt nanoparticles on a single-atom Co-N-C support (Pt@Co SAs) exhibits a half-wave potential of 0.

Selective Synthesis of Large-Area Monolayer Tin Sulfide from Simple Substances.

Both tin monosulfide (SnS) and tin disulfide (SnS) are thermodynamically stable layered materials with the potential for spin-valleytronic devices and photodetectors. Notably, SnS, owing to its low symmetry, exhibits interesting properties such as ferroelectricity, shift-current, and a persistent spin helix state in the monolayer limit. Unlike SnS, however, creating large-area atomic-thickness crystals of SnS is challenging, owing to the enhanced interlayer interactions caused by lone pair electrons.

Iron, aluminum, and thorium impurity removal from a rare earth element pregnant leach solution using magnesium carbonate.

This study investigates the selective precipitation of aluminum, iron, and thorium from a rare earth element (REE)-containing pregnant leach solution (PLS) using magnesium carbonate (MgCO) as a precipitant. The goal is to efficiently remove impurities while minimizing valuable REE losses. A combination of experimental methods and aqueous thermodynamic modeling (OLI software) was used to understand the precipitation behavior of these elements under varying pH, temperature, and hydrogen peroxide (HO) conditions.

Function of and in Temperature Stress Response and Apoptosis in Fall Armyworm ().

The fall armyworm () is a major invasive pest. To explore its adaptive mechanisms under temperature stress, we conducted transcriptome analysis across six developmental stages and both sexes at 0, 26, and 46 °C. High-temperature stress induced more differentially expressed genes (DEGs, 8,703) than low-temperature stress (5,426), with fourth instar larvae showing the most DEGs at low temperatures.

Nanomedicine in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy with increasing incidence and mortality rates, highlighting the urgent need for early diagnosis and treatment. However, early diagnosis of PDAC is extremely challenging due to the atypical early symptoms or the absence of noticeable symptoms. As a result, many patients are diagnosed with local metastasis, and even patients who are eligible for surgical resection have a high postoperative recurrence rate.

Photon-counting Raman spectroscopy at a MHz spectral rate for biochemical imaging of an entire organism.

Raman spectroscopy, which probes fine molecular vibrations, is crucial for interpreting covalent bonds, chemical compositions, and other molecular dynamics in mixtures via their vibrational fingerprint signatures. However, over the past few decades, longstanding barriers have been encountered in both the sensitivity and speed of Raman spectroscopy, limiting its ability to be extended to broader biochemical applications. Here, we introduce a versatile analytical workhorse, the fiber-array Raman engine (termed FIRE).

Methodological guidance to the batch preparation of graphene-based sensor for low-cost and high-performance Cd and Pb detection.

The cost-effective, disposable, batch-prepared electrochemical sensors with high sensitivity and accurate detection are essential to the rapid on-site detection of heavy metals in soil and water. Here, we report a one-step laser additive manufacturing technique for the batch fabrication of electrochemical sensors. With the systematic optimization of multiple laser parameters (including laser power, engraving speed, and frequency), highly sensitive laser-induced porous graphene (LIPG) electrodes were fabricated to detect Cd and Pb efficiently.

The experience and influence of youth in China in coping with stressful life events during the post-COVID-19 pandemic era: a qualitative study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the mental well-being of individuals, particularly among the youth. The experience of stressful life events has been linked to increased poor mental health. While the immediate effects have been documented, there is evidence to suggest that the pandemic's impact on mental health could persist in the long run.

Mendelian Randomization Combined with Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Role of the Key Gene PCLAF in the Pathogenesis of Atopic Dermatitis.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by itching and rashes, influenced by genetic, environmental, and immune factors. Despite significant research, the molecular mechanisms underlying AD are not fully understood. This study aims to integrate single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) with Mendelian Randomization (MR) to uncover genetic and metabolic pathways contributing to AD.

Causal Association Between Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs and Diabetic Microvascular Complications: A Drug-Target Mendelian Randomization Study.

It remains unclear whether cholesterol-lowering therapy can reduce the incidence of microvascular complications in patients with diabetes. We aim to explore the potential causal relationship between three common types of cholesterol-lowering drugs and diabetic microvascular complications through drug-target Mendelian randomization (MR) study, laying the groundwork for the development of new medications. In this study, we collected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with HMGCR (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase) inhibitors, PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) inhibitors, and NPC1L1 (Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1) inhibitors from published genome-wide association study statistics.